LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University women's basketball is off to a strong start in conference play for the 2023-24 season with a 4-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference record and a 6-2 overall record. This week, the Bearcats will play at the University of Illinois Springfield on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. and at Quincy University on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 1:00 p.m.
As a team, McKendree ranks in the top 10 in three statistical categories in the GLVC, claiming third in both blocks (3.25 bpg) and steals (8.13 spg). Additionally, the Bearcats have shot 41.7 percent from the field to place them in seventh for field goal percentage.
Junior guard Clare Breden hangs in the top 10 of the scoring column for the GLVC at 16.9 points per game, the seventh highest in the league. Additionally, Breden is ninth in field goal percentage (46.3 percent).
Senior forward Naomi McDaniel was most recently named the GLVC Women's Basketball Player of the Week, making history as the first in the Bearcat women's basketball program since McKendree joined the league in 2013. McDaniel averaged 19.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in the last three conference games for McKendree to earn the honor. In conference standings, McDaniel is fourth in field goal percentage (55.4 percent), sixth in blocked shots (1.3 per game), and eighth in rebounding (7.8 rebounds per game).
An impressive defensive effort from senior guard Madyson Harper places the 5-foot-6 guard 10th in blocks (0.8 per game) and seventh in steals (1.9 per game).
The University of Illinois Springfield holds a third-best record of 3-1 in the GLVC as part of a 5-2 overall record. The Bearcats and Prairie Stars met just once last season in January of 2023; McKendree topped UIS 70-63.
The Prairie Stars have shown an efficient scoring effort so far, ranking second in the league for three categories: points per game (77.6 per game), field goal percentage (45 percent), and three-point percentage (38.9 percent). UIS tops the steals column, grabbing 11.0 steals per game, and rounds out their top-five rankings in assists at 15.71 per game.
Junior guard Jessenia Lawson tops the conference in steals (2.9 per game) in addition to standing at sixth in field goal percentage at 48.8 percent and eighth in scoring, netting 16.7 points per game. Also securing the highest three-point percentage in the league is graduate forward Michaela Gibbons, shooting 45.8 percent.
Quincy also holds a top three spot in the GLVC, tying with the Prairie Stars with a 3-1 conference record and a 3-5 overall record. The Bearcats and Hawks met in a tight contest last season as McKendree slipped away with a 63-60 win.
On the offensive side, Quincy is fifth highest in rebounding (39.8 per game) and in free-throw percentage (73.9 percent).
Defensively, the Hawks are second in the GLVC at 4.0 blocks per game and fifth in steals at 7.5 per game. Individually, two players are in the defensive rankings; sophomore forward Acheampomaa Danso and junior forward Cymirah Williams are second and sixth for rebounding, respectively. Danso also leads the GLVC for blocking, denying 1.9 shots per game.
Both of this weekend's games will be streamed via pay-per-view on the GLVC Sports Network. Live statistics are also available during the games.
